Praying for God's kingdom to come in the Mississippi Delta

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St. Patrick’s Breastplate, adapted

We bind unto the unborn today
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same
The Three in One and One in Three,
Creator of the universe.

We bind unto the unborn today
The humility of the Incarnation of Christ with His Baptism,
The obedience of His crucifixion with His burial,
The triumph of His Resurrection with His Ascension,
The assurance of His coming on the Judgment Day.

We bind unto the unborn the power
Of the great love of cherubim;
The sweet ‘Well done’ in judgment hour,
The service of the seraphim,
Confessors’ faith, Apostles’ word,
The Patriarchs’ prayers, the prophets’ scrolls,
All good deeds done unto the Lord
And purity of virgin souls.

We bind unto the unborn the strength of Heaven,
The cloud of God’s presence overhead,
Tent of flesh,
Tabernacle of life,
Anchor of placental plate,
Pulsing warmth in the dark,
Glorious motion without weight.
Prayers of unknown pilgrims rise
As mercy dwells between
The wings of cherubim unseen.

We bind unto the unborn today
The power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, His might to stay,
His ear to hearken to their need.
God’s word to speak for them,
God’s shield to protect them,
God’s host to secure them:

Against evil, against the lust of nature, against every person who meditates injury to them, whether far or near, whether alone or with many.
We invoke all these virtues against every hostile, savage power warring upon their bodies and souls, against the evil laws of paganism, against the false laws of heresy, against the false promises of idolatry and against all knowledge which blinds the soul of humanity.

Christ, protect them against the death wound and the burning,
The vacuum suction, the poisoned shaft until Thy returning.
Christ with them, Christ before them, Christ behind them,
Christ in them, Christ beneath them, Christ above them,
Christ on their right, Christ on their left,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of them,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of them,
Christ in every eye that sees them,
Christ in their silence.

We bind unto the unborn the Name,
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.
By Whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of our salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord.